Omotayo Fashola
Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC) Director-General, Bukola Olopade, has firmly dismissed speculation about Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle exiting his role, despite reported interest from Tunisia, Gabon, and Angola.
Chelle, who led Nigeria to a Bronze medal at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, has caught the attention of these nations after his remarkable performance with the Super Eagles.
With less than twelve months left on his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), discussions about his future have intensified.
However, Olopade remains confident that the Malian tactician will stay, emphasizing that the interested nations lack the caliber of players that enable Chelle’s success.
“Eric Chelle isn’t going anywhere. The teams pursuing him don’t possess the elite talent that makes coaching seamless.
“Let’s not overlook that his achievements stemmed from having top-tier squad depth—players who perfectly executed his vision on the pitch.
“Just recently, we shared a meal at my Abuja residence. While I’m not the NFF President, we maintain a cooperative framework. Eric is more than a colleague—he’s family now.
“I’ve already spoken to the NFF President, and by midweek, we’ll formalize discussions to secure his future,” Olopade exclusively revealed to Footy-Africa.
